Legal Definitions - Computer Software Protection Act of 1980

The Computer Software Protection Act of 1980 is a law that was added to the Copyright Act of 1976. It defines "computer program" as a type of literary work that can be protected by copyright laws. This means that the creators of computer programs have the exclusive right to control how their programs are used, copied, and distributed.

For example, if someone creates a new computer program, they can prevent others from copying or distributing it without their permission. This helps protect the creator's intellectual property and ensures that they can profit from their work.

The Computer Software Protection Act of 1980 also includes a provision known as 17 USCA § 117. This provision allows people who legally own a copy of a computer program to make certain copies of the program for backup or archival purposes. This means that if someone's computer crashes or their program is lost, they can make a copy of it to restore it without violating copyright laws.